‘Pantheon’ Recap: ‘You Must Be Caspian’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

This is a spoiler-free recap of Episode Six of ‘Pantheon’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It’s been a little while since we’ve talked about deeper themes and concepts regarding the human condition in association with the AMC+ series, Pantheon, and rightfully so. Simply because this series took a slight step back from such matters to properly world-build and help us to understand the digital afterlife and its benefits and detractions for Laurie and David now that they are firmly settled within that world, and of course… to also drop some major surprises in our laps. Since few of us ever saw that particular twist involving Caspian coming in the slightest. But… now that we’ve indulged in some understanding and surprise… the writers’ room decided it was high time to return to an examination of the human condition.
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For ‘You Must Be Caspian’ is a story that takes the time to ponder upon our thoughts regarding destiny, and how some of us believe it is something we control while others believe it is foretold and why each side holds to that, and it accomplished this feat, by bringing Caspian to Maddie’s home. For they reconnected in his time of need and well, being in a quiet space where he could learn about himself… is what started the exploration in question. Because the gravity of seeing what his life was scripted to be, put Caspian in a sour and broken place. Since he grew up thinking the sky was the limit and life was his choosing and well… he’s the person that pondered upon the nature of destiny and how there’s no way it is something that can be controlled.

Because despite the best efforts of Logorhythms to assert control, it did dawn upon him, that he broke free of his supposed destiny and was on his own now, and that spoke volumes to how our choices and their benefits and consequences do indeed define us. Because he was free from a fate that wasn’t of his choosing and could forge his own path and use his mind as he saw fit. Which he did do here and well, this was indeed a fascinating sequence, one that really helped us to understand why destiny is a concept that offends so many. Since truly, what we do today in stance of tomorrow, produces wonders for us and the thought of just handing off our future to the moment or chance is disgusting to our minds and seems unfathomable to even embrace… but the show was quick to explain why people do so.

Since David and Laurie finally came face to face with Chanda… who revealed what he has been doing all this time alone in his own server and how he saw this strange circumstance… as the opposite of Caspian’s view. For he truly believed that he was given his intellect as a gift from the universe, all because he was preordained to fulfill a purpose and a destiny. One that motivated him to make some bold and scary choices in this tale, the kind that once again surprised at the end of this story. But what matters more, is how Chanda’s journey spoke volumes to the fact that when some people are in a tough spot, sometimes they think it is destiny to cope, and they soon embrace that line of thinking to heal and guide them, and there really are a great deal of people that side with this. Because they are desperate for meaning and direction.

Which more or less made it clear… that destiny isn’t something that we can truly rely upon as a concept to guide humanity. Since such thoughts are reckless and inflated, as evidenced by that devastating ending. But what matters more is that this episode once again leaned hard into social commentary and did so in a supremely brilliant and thoughtful manner. The kind that definitely challenges the viewer’s thoughts on destiny while once again questioning the power of technology and its role in our lives and well, it would seem that this story is only to dig deeper on such matters, thanks to Chanda’s stupid and reckless decision. One that is going to change the world likely for the worse since little thought went into the consequences of his actions. All in the name of divine destiny. Until next time.

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